In March, Italians will have the opportunity to vote on a judicial reform that the government describes as essential for improving the legal system. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, aligned with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing party Brothers of Italy, argued that without these reforms, the country would continue to be plagued by 'mafia-like' mechanisms that distort elections to self-governing bodies. The government's emphasis on the need for reform reflects a growing concern over the influence of organized crime in Italian politics.

The public discourse surrounding the upcoming referendum has intensified, with significant pushback from the judiciary. Judges and prosecutors have voiced their outrage at Nordio's terminology, emphasizing that law enforcement officials and judges are still under threat from the very organized crime networks they are tasked with combating. This backlash highlights the tension between the government’s push for reform and the judiciary’s concerns about safety and integrity in their operations against the mafia.

The upcoming referendum represents a critical juncture in Italy's relationship with its legal system and organized crime. The debate is not only about the reforms themselves but also the broader implications of how they may reshape the justice system and the political landscape. As the referendum approaches, opinions remain deeply divided, with critics labeling the reform approach as reminiscent of tactics used by Hungary's government under Viktor Orbán, further complicating the narrative around Italian democracy and judicial independence.